Krampus recap

Two years ago, at our big Krampus party, I was momentarily knocked unconscious by a disco ball which had been hurled at my head. With that as my point of reference, last night’s event went exceptionally well. What follow are a few of the photos that I was able to snap between beers. I don’t think they come close to capturing the magic that propelled the night’s events, but I felt as thought I should share them, if only to prove to my family in Kentucky that, yes, people do in fact really come out for these things.

A lot of people contributed toward making last night’s event a success. Chief among them are Chris Sandon, Partick Elkins, Trevor Stone, Natalie Barry, all of the folks in the No Experience Required Marching Band, the guy who let us use his PA, Charlie Slick and Daniel Peron for bringing fuel for our torches, the drag queens of Elbowdeep, everyone who showed up in costume, and the staffs of both the Corner Brewery and Woodruff’s… I know I’ve said it before, but it really is incredible what this City can pull off when everyone works together.

If you were there, let me know what you thought. And send photos if you have them… I’m especially interested in seeing documentation of the parade. As I was holding a torch at the front of the procession, I didn’t get to see much of what was taking place behind me.

It was a good time. I missed the awesome party band from last year, but the kazoos and the fog machine were fine additions! Your costume as the Mechanic that fixes the stars looked as if you stepped out of the pages of “The Little Prince”. Ypsilanti is a great place and we have Mark to thank for several things that make it special (Krampus, Shadow Art Fair, his blog, his amazing air guitar playing, etc.)

CW, the Detroit Party Marching Band couldn’t make it this year, and Patrick Elkins stepped up at the last minute to form a band and fill the gap. Given that they’d never played together, I think they did really well. (I didn’t see it, but I heard that there was a trumpet player launching bottle rockets from his instrument.) My hope is that the No Experience Required Marching Band sticks around and continues to evolve. As much as I love the Detroit Party Marching Band, I think it’s time that Ypsi had a band of its own for events such as these. (I think it would be cool to have them both play next year, battling it out on the dance floor.) And I’m glad you liked the kazoos. It was another last-minute improvisation.

Yes! Another good Mark Maynard idea! A local party band would be well used and truly appreciated, and we did have the beginnings of one there. I was near the fireworks of which you speak. Launching fireworks from the bell of a trombone was both novel and scary.

[…] Here, for those of you who still aren’t sure if you’d like to attend, are three links. If you follow them, I think you’ll get a pretty good sense as to what the event is all about: 2010 recap, 2011 recap, 2012 recap. […]